FREEPORT - Public safety in Freeport was in a transitional phase in 2013 as the city had its highest number of homicides in more than a decade with four. It also introduced several initiatives to curb crime such as Mayor Jim Gitz's Public Safety Plan and the Freeport City Council sponsoring a rental property ordinance aimed at targeting crime.

"We are committed to this community and want to make sure that it is a safe living and working environment for everyone," said Freeport Deputy Chief Jim Drehoble.

The first of Freeport's four homicides was Adel Ahmed Al-Masmari, who was killed on May 27 while working at the South Galena Avenue Convenience Store. Timothy McGraw was shot in the jaw on June 30 while sitting with his daughter on a neighbor's porch. Walter A. Scott was shot in his apartment Sept. 25, and Carl Green Jr. was gunned down on Float Avenue on Oct. 16.

Traveontaye Berry, 17, was apprehended fleeing the scene of Green's shooting and is accused of killing him. He pleaded not guilty in court and has demanded a jury trial which is scheduled to take place in February. Berry is the only person who has been arrested at this point in connection with the four homicides this year.

Drehoble said that the reason it takes time to make an arrest is that police must be able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a person committed a crime before they can be arrested.

"Our force puts in a lot of man hours and time into these cases," Drehoble said. "We've seen some results with arrests and hope to continue to see more."

In 2013, Freeport police were also able to bring first-degree murder charges against two men in connection with older crimes.

LaShawn Thurman, 38, was charged on Oct. 8 in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 48-year-old Victoria Strong. Thurman, who is currently incarcerated in Iowa, is accused of shooting Strong in the leg in the 1300 block of South Oak Avenue during an altercation at a party in Freeport on Sept. 23, 2012. She later died at Rockford Memorial Hospital on Sept. 29, 2012.

David Ellis was arrested on Oct. 11 and charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and robbery in connection with the 1987 slaying of Hugh Plata. Plata was found with multiple stab wounds in his home at 728 E. Stephenson St. around 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 1987, by a police officer who had come to check on him. The cold case was reopened in 2011 at the request of Plata's family.

"Our patrol officers and detective bureau have done some tremendous work not only on the cold cases but on the recent cases as well," Drehoble said.

Page 2 of 2 - Drehoble said that the city's public safety plan, which promotes safer neighborhoods, positive youth behavior and accountability, stronger community and interdepartmental relationships and safer housing for residents, would continue to be implemented in 2014.

"The public safety plan will continue to be phased in," Drehoble said. "It is still a draft in development but could be adopted in 2014 at some point."

One of the first steps taken by the city to adopt the policy was the passage of the city's rental property ordinance in November which includes a crime-free housing provision. With 38 percent of homes in Freeport being rentals, officials decided that requiring written leases to include this would help landlords to evict tenants for unlawful activity and that guests could be barred from the premises as well for the same reasons.